The ransom drop went according to plan with one small variation. John
and Luka wrote a short note to their daughter, pinned it to her
stuffed rabbit and put the toy in with the money. One of the buttons
on "Robert's" overalls was actually the homing device. THRUSH could
scan the bunny until doom's day without eliciting so much as a peep
in response. Ilya was banking on the enemy agents' desire to keep
Katerina cooperative by letting her keep her toy. Even if they moved
her to a new hiding place, Robert would make finding her very easy.
UNCLE agents from Chicago observed the ransom pick-up and when the
coast was clear, transmitted a description of the THRUSH operative
and his vehicle. Shortly after dinner, John's computer signalled the
arrival of a new e-mail message. The money had been accepted. Ilya
grinned when the attached video file showed a smiling Katerina
holding her bunny. "They're on the North side..." Ilya adjusted the
controls on the locator. "Okay, here's the address." Napoleon relayed
the information to Mendoza and his team.
"Don't show yourselves. We have every reason to believe they'll go
ahead with leaving her at the museum. Solo out. Who's up for poker?"
No one mentioned sleep. Roland checked in with his office then sat
down at the table. The remaining money was on its way back to the
bank. "Jacks bet."
It was a long night. By two in the morning, Roland gave up and
stretched out on the couch. The other men remained at the table
talking. John was sitting on Luka's lap getting a neck rub. With his
eyes slitted shut and a loopy grin on his face he resembled a large
cat. Napoleon smiled when Luka finished his ministrations and planted
a sloppy kiss on the back of John's neck. The younger man showed no
sign of moving from his perch.
"Have you always been partners?" John asked as Luka's arms surrounded
him.
Napoleon chuckled and began to relate the edited version of the early
days of his partnership with Ilya. The two agents could be
themselves. Despite the gravity of the situation, they were enjoying
being able to openly express their affection for each other. John and
Luka easily saw through the dry bantering style. All while they were
speaking, the UNCLE men's eyes were glowing.
"... I was used to working alone. When the old man told me I was
going to get a partner I nearly resigned. Figuring I might as well
meet the guy, I went to Uncle Alex's office and ..."
"Proceeded to confirm all of my estimations regarding your
character..." Ilya dead-panned.
"Charming, witty, sophisticated, well-groomed..."
"Arrogant, patronizing, shallow, flirtatious..."
"I decided to give the little Russian a chance to impress me."
"Which I did by leaving a permanent imprint of your face on the west
wall of our gymnasium."
"We work well together."
"I get to crawl through sewers, drain pipes, tunnels---get captured,
tortured while my partner has cocktails with the enemy and arranges
for my rescue usually about two hours after I manage to escape on my
own."
"In between missions..."
"I get to familiarize myself with the latest advances in our various
medical facilities."
"Only because you refuse to duck when I tell you to."
"And if I did, *you* would be the one in hospital."
"I'm always willing to take my turn, Ilyusha."
"Too eager. You'd think I was made out of porcelain."
"Alabaster, dushka moi. Besides, I keep hoping that if I am the
injured one, you'll get the opportunity to pamper me."
"God forbid. You're spoiled enough already." Ilya took Napoleon's
hand and raised it to his cheek. "Although you did scare me one
time..."
"Shhh. That's all over. I've got the scar to prove it."
"You nearly died, Polya."
"Nonsense, it was just my way of making sure you were stuck with the
paperwork."
Once again, Ilya looked at John. Both men knew what it was like to
keep vigil over a lover who'd taken a bullet in the heart. It was no
joking matter.
NS*IK*JC*LK
The Chicago Museum of Art opened at ten in the morning. John and Luka
were parked outside at eight thirty. Neither man had slept. Napoleon
and Ilya were monitoring the situation from a command post at the
Chicago office. No one wanted to spook THRUSH at this stage of the
game.
"When we get her back, I'm going to sleep for a week." John yawned.
He was leaning over on Luka who'd been startled awake by John's
observation.
"Huh?"
"Nothing, Sacha. Go back to sleep. I didn't mean to disturb you."
John put his arm around his husband and settled him more comfortably.
Looking out of the window, John wondered if their lives would ever
get back to normal. Although the two agents hadn't revealed any
sensitive information, they'd managed to impart enough data to make
John reconsider his assumption that the world was a relatively safe
place.
He wondered what it would be like to face the threat of losing the
most important person in your life on a regular basis. Napoleon and
Ilya's wry humor was an understandable defense mechanism. He'd
noticed scars on both men that made his own minor disfigurement look
to be the result of a cycling accident. If the pale ridges of flesh
that marked both men were anything to go by, the two agents had each
been close to death on more than one occasion; with the Russian
getting the lion's share of these dubious "honors."
Checking his watch every five minutes, John felt as if the appointed
hour would never arrive. Luka woke up an forty minutes later,
apologizing for leaving John to fret alone. "I'm fine, Sascha. Having
you in my arms is enough to keep me sane. Actually, I was thinking
about our houseguests."
"Should I be jealous?" Luka teased.
"No, beloved. I've got the only man I've ever wanted. I won't deny
Ilya is a walking invitation for date rape but he scares the shit out
of me. You know he reads minds?"
"Then when this is over, we'll go out of town. I have no wish for my
fellow Slav to get any ideas of what I'm going to do to you once
we're alone." Luka grinned.
"How can you think of sex at a time like this?"
"I'm not thinking of sex. I'm thinking about making love with someone
who is the other half of myself; a much better idea altogether."
"Only if you really get your kicks from masturbation." John smiled at
the image of Luka pleasuring the other half of himself. "Do you think
Katerina will need to see a therapist after all of this?"
"It couldn't hurt." Luka was used to John's suddenly changing their
topic of conversation. "I'll ask MacIntyre. He probably knows someone
who's good with children. Luckily kids are pretty resilient. Those
THRUSH people have no reason to harm her anymore than they did by
kidnapping her. I don't think you have to worry too much, strong
heart. We'll get her back, take a much needed vacation, and put this
behind us."
"I'm tempted to take her out of school and hire a governess." John
muttered.
"Janaskja, this was like being struck by lightning. It's not going to
happen again. Our daughter will be fine unless we over-react by
smothering her; making her afraid of her own shadow. Nevertheless,
installing a security system in our apartment can't hurt. I doubt if
we'll be plagued by any more secret agents but there's plain old
ordinary crooks out there by the hundreds."
"You're right. I worry too much." John sighed.
"No, you only said aloud what I was thinking. We'll all be jumpy for
a while but eventually, things will get back to the same old
blessedly boring routine. Now, why don't you let me be *your* pillow
for a bit. You could use some beauty sleep."
"Great. On top of everything else, you're telling me I'm getting old."
"Actually, you don't look all that different from a young man I fell
in love with nearly nine years ago."
"I love you, Sascha."
"As you so eloquently say, right back atcha, Janaskja."
NS*IK*JC*LK
Luka grinned when the uniformed security guard opened the doors to
the museum. John was already out of the car and half way up to the
main entrance. The two men headed for the salon containing the large
pointillist masterpiece: L'Apres Midi sur L'Isle de Grande Jatte.
Shortly after Kitten was removed from their home by Social Services,
John spent hours seated in front of the painting which featured the
indistinct image of a little girl.
They sat on one of the benches and waited once more. A soft chime
heralded an announcement from the public address system. "A little
girl has been separated from her family. Would her parents please
come to the main desk on the the ground floor? Thank you." Luka and
John ran for the stairs. There she was. Her pajamas and robe had
sparked curious comments from the guards who'd found her. Her fathers
never heard them.
"Oh sweetheart, we missed you so much." John had Katerina in his
arms. Both of them were in Luka's.
"Some bad men told me you were dead so I would cry. They told a fib."
"Yes they did, Kitten. We're both fine. Are you alright?"
"They wouldn't let me go home."
"We know. But we're going home right after we stop at the hospital so
Dr. Scott can take a look at you and Robert." Luka took his daughter
into his arms and kissed her cheek. They didn't notice a blond
security guard speaking softly into a walkie-talkie.
"She's safe, Napasha." Ilya had been in the museum as back-up. "I'll
check the place over then meet you at headquarters."
Dr. Scott Welles confirmed that nothing was physically wrong with
Katerina. John briefed Kerry and informed her that he and Luka would
be taking their vacations starting immediately. When the examination
was completed, by unspoken agreement, the family headed to the Carter
estate.
Millicent Carter hugged her grand-daughter tightly. "How's Robert
doing?" The elderly woman asked when she could speak.
"He's fine. He says he missed me." Katerina had not let go of her
bunny since he'd been returned to her.
NS*IK*JC*LK
"They're at the estate." Ilya closed his cell phone. "Mr. Waverly is
arranging to 'acquire' the data from the disk through other means. As
soon as he sets up the false leak, we can shut down most of THRUSH's
European operations."
"Good. Then I'm taking you on a nice long vacation." Napoleon was
sprawled, naked on the bed. "Come here, liubov." Ilya did not have to
be told twice. "You know THRUSH may want revenge on that family even
if we set up the dummy leak?"
"I was thinking the same thing. But if we're seen in town, THRUSH
will know for certain that we copied the diskette." Ilya was getting
his neck massaged. John wasn't the only one who purred when stroked.
The blue eyes were half closed.
"You are a mass of knots, my love."
"Are you saying I'm kinky?"
"Well... *I* wasn't the one who went to sleep in a lace teddy with
satin shoulder straps."
"That was part of my disguise."
"Sure it was."
"I think it only fair to remind you I achieved a perfect score the
last time I was on the firing range."
"As I was saying, you're very tense. But I think I know of a way to
relax you...
NS*IK*JC*LK
"Kerry? There's been a change in plans." Luka was on the phone with
Dr. Weaver. John was lying next to him, idly stroking his husband's
cock. "We won't be going on vacation just yet..." Luka sucked in his
breath as John's fingers stopped and his mouth took over. "We think
we'd be better off if we resumed our regular routine. We'll be at
work day after tomorrow. See you then... Ahhhh shit!"
"Luka? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine Kerry. I've got to go."
"Gee, and I was doing my best to make you 'come'." John moved up into
Luka's arms.
NS*IK*JC*LK
Ohhh that's it, Ilyusha. Right there." Napoleon was impaled by his
lover. Ilya's face was flushed gloriously as he concentrated on
driving his partner over the edge. The UNCLE safe-house had sound-
proofed walls; another reason they preferred the somewhat seedy
apartment over more luxurious accommodations.
Ilya pumped his hips rapidly then slowed as Napoleon's moans
increased in fervor. Slow languid strokes stalled the impending
completion of their lovemaking. "For heaven's sake, Ilya faster,
harder, I'm dying here." Ilya grinned evilly and pulled back until he
was barely inside Napoleon. The older man used his legs to impale
himself once more, crossing his ankles in the small of Ilya's
back. "I've got a gun under my pillow. I suggest you put your own
weapon to work, now."
Ilya loved it when his partner began to beg. He resumed his thrusts
which were matched by reciprocal motions of Napoleon's pelvis. Before
too long, the Russian cried out and collapsed on top of his lover.
NS*IK*JC*LK
Katerina was safely tucked in. One of Roland's security guards was
stationed outside of her room. Luka, after locking their door, was
returning the favors his husband had done earlier in the evening.
John's hips bucked upwards as the powerful suction obliterated his
higher brain functions. At some point during their marriage, Luka had
mastered John's secret weapon. Tuneless humming elicited John's
orgasm. He vaguely felt Luka remove the condom and move into position
next to him.
"I swear they'll give you the Nobel Prize before you're through."
John murmured into his husband's chest. I'm a dead man."
"Necrophilia, huh. What's *in* those stories you've been reading?"
"Nothing that can compare to what you just did, Sascha. Trust me on
that."
"I trust you in everything."
Snores. John had fallen asleep.
Afterword
Discreet surveillance by Chicago UNCLE agents was maintained on John
and Luka for a year. The information contained on the diskette
was "discovered" as the result of a senior THRUSH agent's defection.
His cohorts never realized this "traitor" actually defected from the
land of the living to his new address in South Central Hades. When
one by one, the European THRUSH installations were located and
destroyed, their unwitting host governments decried this increase in
terrorist activity. Ilya had been very busy.
NS*IK*JC*LK
"Who can tell me the name of the capital of Illinois?" Sister
Veronica asked her class. Several hands shot up.
"Yes, Alexander?"
"Springfield, Sister."
"That's right." The nun nodded at her newest pupil. The children
shared desks. Katerina smiled at her seat mate. The boy smiled back.
When the school day ended, Katerina raced for the door where John was
waiting. "Daddy, this is Alex. He just started school today."
Katerina had her friend by the hand. "Alex, this is my Daddy. His
name is John."
"Pleased to meet you, sir." Alex extended his right hand.
John was speechless. A miniature Ilya stood before him with hazel
eyes and clear blond hair. "I'm very glad to meet you, Alex. Do you
like school?" John finally managed to ask.
"Oh yes, sir. I'm going to be a scientist when I grow up."
"My daddy's a doctor." Katerina said proudly. The three of them
walked outside to where Luka and other parents were waiting. John
watched as Alex ran over to a couple who hugged him and helped him
climb into the back seat of their mini-van. As the Kovac-Carters rode
home through the late afternoon traffic, John said very little. He
wrote a short note to his father and enclosed another one to be
addressed to Waverly's great nephew. His father's old college room
mate should be able to forward it on.
NS*IK*JC*LK
"Dear Ilya, you made the right decision. I have seen him. He's happy
with a mother and father and baby sister. He and my daughter are
friends. He says he wants to be a scientist when he's older. I know
this is not the same as having him with you, but you can take comfort
in the fact that he's safe and loved. The next time you and your
partner come to Chicago, please stop by for a visit. You know the
date of Kitten's birthday in December. I think we can arrange a party
for her and her school friends. We thank you and Napoleon for
everything you did for us. John Kovac-Carter"
"Are you going to take him up on his offer, Ilyusha?"
"No, but it's nice to know I have the option. Things are best left as
they are."
Finis
Copyright Footer', 'This site is not affiliated in any way with "ER", its writers or production company, or NBC, and makes no profit from the show. The ERROS skin is by Brihana. The script is eFiction version 3.4.2© Tammy Keefer, http://efiction.org\r\n